Trapped Under His Rule

Meredith.

"You will bring your family to Mystic Furs in time for the wedding tomorrow," Draven said to my father, his tone final. "I don't care for your approval. This is not a negotiation."

My father's lips pressed into a thin line, but he said nothing. What else could he say?

He already gave me out. And no one challenges Draven Oatrun.

A sharp gasp left my throat as Draven grabbed my arm and led me away from my parents and siblings, who didn't dare to breathe another word to him.

The ride to Mystic Furs was a quiet one, but not peaceful.

The tension sat thick in the car, pressing against my chest with every passing mile. I sat stiffly, as far from Draven as the limited space would allow, my fingers clenched tightly in my lap. The cold glass window was my only comfort, though it did little to stop the storm raging inside me.

I replayed my father's last words over and over in my mind. I still can't believe he sent me away with a stranger and banished me from our pack. My pack. Because of my stupid pheromones, which had now stopped oozing after landing me unwanted attention.

The memory was still raw, still fresh, an open wound that refused to stop bleeding.

And now, I was here. Trapped in a stranger's car, being driven to a place I knew nothing about. A pack that wasn't mine. A home that wasn't mine.

I wasn't sure what awaited me, but the sinking feeling in my stomach told me it wouldn't be good. I was a curse who invariably attracted attention wherever I went.

When the line of cars finally pulled into Mystic Furs' territory, my breath caught in my throat.

The sheer size of it was intimidating. Unlike Moonstone Pack, where most homes were simple and uniform, this place was grand and regal, built for warriors and leaders alike. The towering castle loomed in the distance, its stone walls and sharp spires exuding power.

Even from within the car, I could see the way the people moved—efficient, purposeful, disciplined. They had been waiting for their Alpha's return, standing in formation near the entrance like soldiers.

But the moment the cars rolled to a stop and we stepped out, all eyes turned to me.

I stiffened.

The warriors and pack members greeted Draven first, bowing respectfully. Then they acknowledged his Beta, who I've learned was called Jeffery, with equal reverence.

But when it came to me? Their gazes darkened.

Judgment. Suspicion. Contempt. It was everywhere.

Not a single word of welcome was spoken. Not even a curious glance. It was pure rejection.

I swallowed hard, feeling my throat tighten. I shouldn't have been surprised. I was a curse, wasn't I? A mistake from the Moon goddess.

The weight of their stares was suffocating. I wanted distance from Draven, yet my feet betrayed me. I instinctively moved closer to him, letting his large frame serve as a shield against the hostility radiating from the crowd.

I hated myself for it.

Draven said nothing as he led the way toward the castle's entrance, his long strides confident, commanding. I forced myself to follow, ignoring the murmurs that buzzed like angry wasps behind me.

As we approached the massive doors, a man dressed in a fine suit and with an air of authority stepped forward.

A Gamma, or perhaps the head butler?

Whoever he was, his back was ramrod straight as he dipped into a deep bow before Draven.

"My Alpha," he greeted smoothly. Then he turned slightly to Jeffery and offered a polite nod. "Beta Jeffery."

His gaze never flickered toward me. It was as if I didn't exist.

I clenched my fists, a sharp pang of humiliation shooting through me. The rejection was swift and effortless, as if I wasn't even worth acknowledging.

"Everything has been prepared," the man continued, addressing Draven. "Including the room."

The room?

A prickle of unease ran down my spine. What are they talking about?

Before I could ask, Draven turned and strode inside, his posture relaxed, utterly unfazed by the tension around us.

I hesitated for a moment, then forced myself to follow while looking for an opportunity to speak up.

The grand entrance of the castle swallowed me whole, its high ceilings and intricate stonework making me feel even smaller than I already did. Jeffery and the other man walked behind us, their steps echoing against the polished floors.

The weight on my chest grew heavier with every step. I couldn't take it anymore.

"I want my own room." My voice came out sharper than I intended, but I didn't regret it.

Draven stopped mid-step. Slowly, he turned to face me, one dark brow arching.

I lifted my chin, willing my voice to remain steady. "I won't be sharing your bed."

His golden eyes gleamed, a smirk curling at the edge of his lips. He studied me for a long moment before speaking. "You assume I want you in my bed, little wolf?" His smirk deepened, but his eyes were unreadable. "You'll sleep where I decide. Let's see if you like my generosity.

There was something almost amused in his tone, and it sent a ripple of unease down my spine.

His gaze flickered toward the man beside Jeffery. "Move her to the guest wing."

I blinked, my heart stuttering. The guest wing?

That was—A small victory. But I wasn't stupid. A gilded cage was still a cage, and I had no intention of staying in it.

"One more thing!" Draven suddenly halted in his steps and turned to me, seeming to have remembered something. "It would be stupid of you to try to escape from my fortress. My men have a kill-on-sight order on you, so don't waste your time."

"What?" The weight of his words settled deep in my bones, cold and inescapable.

I hadn't even crafted an escape plan, yet he had already placed a bounty on my head.

Draven's voice cut through my thoughts, adding one last warning. "Be on time for dinner tonight. I don't like waiting."

Then he was gone, disappearing down the hall with his Beta as if he hadn't just upended my world.

I stood there, breath uneven, hands trembling.

Trapped in this place. Under his rule.